Holster for power tools

ABSTRACT

A holster for a tool such as a cordless drill which permits rapid and easy insertion of the drill and permits a variety of models to be used in the same holster comprises a tubular body portion having an open top end and open bottom end sized to receive the body portion of a tool, the tubular body portion having an elongate cutaway section extending along the length of the tubular body portion from the top edge and sized to receive the handle of the tool, and an attachment for attaching the holster to a user.

[0001] This application claims priority from U.K. Application No.0009066.2, filed Apr. 12, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention is concerned with a holster for power toolsand in particular for power tools having a generally cylindrical bodyportion with a pistol grip handle projecting from the body portion suchas a cordless drill.

[0003] Cordless power tools such as drills are widely used in theconstruction industry and by DIY users. The user frequently needs topick up and put down the tool while carrying out other tasks. The userrequires the tool to be readily to hand when needed but also securelyheld when not in use because they are relatively heavy and can bedamaged by falling from even a small height and present an injury riskto anyone working below should the tool fall. In addition the user needsto be able to carry the tool around easily when moving around, forexample climbing ladders or scaffolding. The most convenient way toachieve this is to choose a holster attached to the user.

[0004] Holsters for power tools are known and generally take the form ofa leather or fabric harness or pouch. Such holsters are often designedto receive one tool, or only a limited range of tools. A problem withsuch holsters is that the leather or fabric wears rapidly and oftendistorts with use making it difficult to easily and rapidly insert andremove the tool from the holster. Such holsters generally require anadditional means such as a strap to secure the tool if the operator willbe climbing or moving around.

[0005] There is a need for a holster which retains tools securely at alltimes, is robust and which permits rapid and easy insertion and removalof the tool.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Accordingly, the present invention provides a holster for a toolof the type comprising a body portion and a handle portion whichprojects from the body portion in a direction generally perpendicular tothe central axis of the body portion characterized in that the holstercomprises a tubular body portion having a open top and bottom ends sizedto receive the body portion of a tool, the tubular body portion havingan elongate cutaway section extending along at least 50% of the lengthof the tubular body portion from the top edge and sized to receive thehandle of the tool, and means for attachment of the holster to a userwhich means allows the holster to maintain a vertical or substantiallyvertical alignment when attached to the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The FIGURE shows a schematic front view of a holster according tothe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] The body portion of the holster is of a tubular construction,e.g., substantially cylindrical, and may be fabricated from anysubstantially rigid material such as aluminium or plastics materialssuch as polyethylene or polyurethane. The rigid construction preventsdistortion of the holster so that even after prolonged use the tool maybe rapidly and easily inserted into the holster.

[0009] The tubular body portion is open at both top and bottom ends andis provided with a cutaway section in the general form of an elongateslot extending from the top edge of the tubular body portion along asubstantial length of the tubular body portion. The cutaway section willextend at least 50%, and preferably 75%, 80%, 90% or more of the lengthof the body portion.

[0010] The cutaway section may be outwardly flared at its upper end tomake insertion of a tool such as a drill easier and to provide someguidance as the drill is inserted into the holster.

[0011] The bottom edge of the cutaway section may be provided with anotch. This assists in locating the handle of the drill in the holsterwhich will rest in the notch in the region of the trigger switch andalso prevents the trigger switch contacting the bottom edge of thecutaway section so that the drill the drill is not accidentally operatedin the holster or whilst being inserted or removed should the operatornot engage the switch lock and assists in preventing the drill fromrotating within the holster.

[0012] The interior of the holster may be lined with a plastics orrubber material to provide protection for the drill.

[0013] The holster is provided with a means of attachment to the usersuch that the holster is weighted to take up a generally verticalalignment when attached to the user.

[0014] One means of attachment is to use a relatively narrow loop of aflexible material such as webbing or similar material which can beattached to the operator's belt. The narrow loop and the weight of thedrill in the holster ensures that the holster always hangs verticallyeven when the operator moves and the drill is therefore retainedsecurely within the holster at all times.

[0015] Alternatively, the means for attachment may be joined to theholster body through a pivot connection such that the holster is able tomove freely about the pivot and hang in a vertical position.

[0016] Attachment of the holster such as through a flexible or freelypivotable attachment means ensures that the holster remainssubstantially vertical, and so securely retains the tool independent ofthe movement of the user. Thus it is not necessary to provide a separateretaining means or size the holster so as to retain the tool by frictionso that the tool may be freely and easily removed from the holster atany time.

[0017] In addition since the tubular body portion does not need to besized to fit closely to the body of the drill a large number ofdifferent drill designs can be retained by a single size of holster.

[0018] Another advantage of the holster of the present invention is thatthe front end of the drill projects through the lower end of the holsterbut the drill is effectively locked in position against rotationalmovement by the handle in the cutaway section which means that the chuckof a drill can be easily operated whilst the drill is in the holster tochange bits even with one hand if necessary.

[0019] In an embodiment of the invention the holster comprises a tubularbody portion (2) having a top end (4) and a bottom end (6). A cutawaysection (8) is provided in the tubular body portion which extends fromthe top edge (10) of the tubular body portion for the majority of thelength of the holster. The top edge of the cutaway section is tapered(12). The bottom edge (14) of the cutaway section is provided with anotch (16) which accepts the front face of the drill handle and preventsthe trigger switch from contacting the lower edge of the cutawaysection.

[0020] A webbing loop (18) is attached to the tubular body portion topermit attachment of the holster to a belt.

[0021] In use the user inserts a drill into the top end of the holster(4) such that the handle of the drill registers with the cutaway section(8). The tapered upper edge (12) serves to guide the drill handle intothe cutaway section if the handle should not be exactly aligned with thecutaway section. The front end of the drill will pass through the openlower end (6) of the holster and the drill will continue to be acceptedinto the holster until the handle contacts the lower edge (14) of thecutaway section so that a majority of the length of the drill body andin particular that constituting the major part of the weight of thedrill is enclosed within the holster and the drill cannot tip back outof the holster. The width of the cutaway section is greater than that ofthe handle of the drill but less than the width of the drill body sothat the drill body cannot pass through the cutaway section. The weightof the drill and the narrow flexible attachment to the user ensures thatthe holster maintains or tends to maintain a vertical alignment and thisensures that although the drill can be a relatively loose fit within theholster, which aids rapid insertion and removal, the drill is retainedsecurely in the holster at all times. Additional straps or retainingmeans are not necessary but may be provided for example to retain thedrill in the holster when not being worn by the user.

What is claimed is:
 1. A holster for a tool of the type comprising a body portion and a handle portion which projects from the body portion in a direction generally perpendicular to the central axis of the body portion characterized in that the holster comprises a tubular body portion having open top and bottom ends sized to receive the body portion of a tool, the tubular body portion having an elongate cutaway section extending along at least 50% of the length of the tubular body portion from the top edge and sized to receive the handle of the tool, and means for attachment of the holster to a user which means allows the holster to maintain a vertical or substantially vertical alignment when attached to the user.
 2. A holster according to claim 1 wherein the tubular body portion is rigid or substantially rigid.
 3. A holster according to claim 1 wherein the cutaway section extends for at least 75%, preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90% of he length of the tubular body portion.
 4. A holster according to claim 1 wherein the cutaway section is flared outwardly at its upper edge.
 5. A holster according to claim 1 wherein the cutaway section is provided with a notch on its lower edge.
 6. A holster according to claim 1 wherein the attachment means comprises a flexible loop.
 7. A holster according to claim 1 wherein the attachment means is fixed to the tubular body portion through a pivot. 